Norman Foote (Children's)

Born Norman Mervyn Barrington Foote, Norman Foote had to develop a sense of humor at an early age. That sense of humor has become a hallmark of his music. Foote is known for his kid's-eye view of the world, and his friendly but pointed jabs at anything from pollution to Mom's style of cooking.

Foote left his native Canada at age 20 and made his living as a street performer in Australia and New Zealand. He joined a traveling theater troupe in New South Wales, and developed an interest in puppetry and physical comedy. Foote began to combine all three in his stage performances for kids.

Known among children's performers as a skillful songwriter, Foote returned to Canada and began writing kids' songs non-stop. Foote was one of the first artists signed with the ill-fated "Music Box" series of Walt Disney Records. His two releases with Disney, Foote Prints and If the Shoe Fits, showcased his songwriting skills with light and memorable songs such as "Dinosaur and the Progress of Man" and "Little Armadillos," a song about body mites on nose hairs. Foote's recordings won numerous awards, including a Juno nomination, a Parent's Choice Gold Award, and an award from the National Association of Parenting Publications of America.

In 1995, Foote joined Fred Penner's company, Oak Street Music, and released his fourth album, Shake a Leg. The album proved that Foote still hadn't lost his kick with titles such as "Smelly Feet" and "Able the Table." In 1997, Foote released Pictures on the Fridge on Oak Street/Sony Music. ~ P.J. Swift, Rovi